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Protests in Ukhrul on August 30, 2014 defying govt ban on rallies and sit-ins. Image courtesy Facebook page of the Protest Against SEC 144 Crpc Promulgation in Ukhrul.

At least two persons were shot dead and more than 10 injured after Security Forces opened fire on protestors in ‪‎Ukhrul, a district nearly 85 kilometres from the capital of the Indian state of Manipur, on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

The current unrest in Ukhrul dates back to mid-July, when an unidentified gunman assassinated Ngalangzar Malue, a member of the local Autonomous District Council. No one has claimed responsibility of the murder.

On a dedicated Facebook page, activists have documented the protests since the middle of August.

Protests to stop militarisation at Ukhrul. Image courtesy the Facebook page of the Protest Against SEC 144 Crpc Promulgation in Ukhrul.

On August 11, 2014, police disrupted sit-ins planned in more than 20 places across Ukhrul.

Protesters met with resistance by security forces. Image courtesy the Facebook page of the Protest Against SEC 144 Crpc Promulgation in Ukhrul.

Over five hundred Naga students in India's capital also joined the protests near the Manipur Bhavan in Delhi and shouted slogans such as “Go Back IRBs and Commandos” and “Revoke 144 CrPC”. Phungshok Khonreiwoshi, the president of Tangkhul Student’s Union, Delhi told the press:

The chronic hostility of the Government towards the hill tribes and the constant weakening of the constitutional provisions safeguarded for the hill people are absolutely unacceptable. The attempt of the government is nothing but to usurp the right of the hill people and in particular the Naga’s right to free practice of customary law, ownership of land and civil autonomy.

The United Naga Council, an apex organisation of the Nagas in Manipur, declared that mass rallies will be held on August 30 in four Naga-dominated district headquarters of Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel in Manipur. Demonstrators’ primary demand is that the national government expedite the resolution of an acceptable and honourable settlement of the Indo-Naga issues and expediting the peace process. The rallies also oppose the alleged militarisation of the Ukhrul district, which ostensibly violates the Indo-Naga ceasefire. On the evening of August 29, however, the district's local government stationed loudspeakers throughout the area, announcing that police would not allow any public gathering, as Section 144 was still in force in the area. With protesters already committed to the next day's demonstration, clashes on August 30 became sadly inevitable.

Naga people protesting on August 30, 2014. Image courtesy Facebook page of the Protest Against SEC 144 Crpc Promulgation in Ukhrul.

The next day, on Saturday, August 30, thousands of Nagas from nearby villages came out in Ukhrul town in support of the rally from 11 am defying the bans. At around 2:20 pm, protestors forced through police barricades and gathered at a nearby ground to read out a memorandum to be submitted to the Prime Minister of India. Soon disturbance broke out and the Manipur State Commandos and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) opened fire on peaceful demonstrators outside the Ukhrul district headquarters, killing two persons and injuring many. The deceased were identified as Ramkashing Vashi (age 26) and R. Mayopam (age 31). Online, Facebook users posted photographs of the protests and the victims. Kahorpam Horam shared still more photos from the scene of the mayhem in Ukhrul. (Warning: hyperlinks contain graphic images.)

Twitter users Philachui Sareo and Binalakshmi Nepram described the shooting as it occurred: